PhD project in Enhancing renewable power plants’ performance through advanced control methods - DTU Wind

Would you like to become part of the solution toward green energy transition, by helping develop the methods for modeling renewable power plants and future energy systems? 

The Renewable Plants in Energy Systems (RES) section at DTU Wind and Energy Systems is inviting candidates to apply for a PhD in “Enhancing renewable power plants’ performance through advanced control methods”. The research in this section is multidisciplinary and you will enjoy the advantages of a creative and inspiring work environment. You will get the opportunity to participate and influence the development of advanced renewable power plants in collaboration with top universities and industry in the field of wind energy research in Europe and beyond. 

We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility. We develop talent by offering national/European and global networking opportunities, unique research infrastructure including a MW-scale hybrid power plant at our campus, and a collaborative research environment.

Introduction
Future power systems driven by 100% renewable power plants (RPPs) will be extremely complex, uncertain environments with rapidly changing characteristics. The RPPs will be responsible for maintaining security of supply and stability of the power system in absence of conventional generators, coping with simultaneous uncertainties, e.g. weather, market, and grid uncertainties.   RPPs will provide extensive system services, e.g. frequency reserves, reactive power, voltage control, virtual inertia and black start. One concern is that using traditional linear controllers in RPPs in systems with multiple uncertainties might jeopardize both their own and the system small- and large-signal stability. Thus, the stability of future systems is highly dependent on their own operational conditions, RPPs’ control capabilities, and the interactions between the control layers.

In this project, you will develop an advanced control for RPPs providing grid services that is asymptotically stable in the presence of uncertainties. 

You will be part of a joint alliance research project called Advanced control of renewable power plants for resiliency of highly uncertain power systems , where you will interact with researchers and experts from Technical University of Munich (TUM). This requires good communications skills, but also allows you to co-operate with leading European research institutes. You are expected to conduct about 6-9 months external research stays at TUM. The strong co-operation between DTU and TUM, while requiring strong collaboration skills, allows you to accomplish the ambitious objectives of the project.

Responsibilities and qualifications

Your primary tasks will be: 

• Plan and manage your PhD project in collaboration with supervisors 
• Identify limitations of traditional control for RPPs to tackle weather, market, grid conditions uncertainties of future power systems
• Examine advanced control methods for RPPs suited to tackle future challenges and uncertainties
• Identify benchmark case studies relevant in highly uncertain environments
• Model an uncertain power system for the benchmark case study including control layers interactions
• Develop and assess nonlinear models and advanced controls for RPPs in uncertain power systems.

A detailed project plan will be developed with the supervisors within the first two months after enrolment.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) in engineering, natural sciences or similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a master’s degree. 

Ideally you have some of the following expertise and qualifications:

• Strong educational background in control engineering and power systems 
• Good foundation with robust and optimal control
• Experience with mathematical modelling 
• Preferable general knowledge on renewable power plants
• Motivated to specialize in future electrical power systems
• Experience with technical tools such as Python, Matlab and Matlab Simulink, Power Factory.

You are required to have:

• Excellent grades in their master program
• Dedication and the desire to learn
• Ability to present results in technical reports and prepare scientific papers 
• Good programming skills (MATLAB and/or Python) 
• Ability to work effectively with modelling and control 
• Educational background in control
• Knowledge of power systems or mathematical optimization is appreciated
• Ability to work in a project team and take responsibility for own research goals
• It is mandatory to have excellent communication skills in English

The successful candidate must also fulfill the requirements for admission to a PhD program at DTU.

We expect the candidate to have a strong interest in analyzing the stability of future power systems and qualitative research experience. The working language of the project is English and thus the candidate must have suitable skills in both written and spoken English. 

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

Your new place of employment will be along the shores of the Roskilde fjord, at the DTU Risø Campus.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Anca D. Hansen ([email protected] ), Associate Professor Kaushik Das ([email protected] ) and Head of Section Gregor Giebel ([email protected] ).

You can read more about the department at https://wind.dtu.dk .

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.

Application
Please submit your online application no later than 15 October 2024 (23:59 Danish time). 

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply online”, fill in the online application form in English, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A 1-page research statement, including figures and references if deemed necessary (max 500 words). Research achievements (if any), methodological approaches and research objectives relevant  to the framework of the PhD study are recommended elements to be included. 

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.